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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SJC Amendment

The Senate Judiciary Committee amendment removes reference to the "Legislative Council" and substitutes "Attorney General" for creating the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo task force to review, monitor and guide the proposed federal General Accounting Office investigation asked for by the New Mexico congressional delegation. The amendment tracks with HB156 and SB379 which create the Guadalupe Hidalgo Department within the office of the Attorney General to study concerns relating to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. An appropriation of $100.0 is contained in HB156 and SB379 and covers a one-year period, while the memorial covers a three-year time frame. Additional funding may be needed in the AG's office for administration costs after the first year.

Synopsis of Original Bill

HJM 22 request the NM legislative council to create the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo task force for three years beginning June 1, 2000 and ending June 1, 2003 to review and monitor the general accounting office study, take testimony from the land grant community and provide historical, legal and social analysis on the study. The bill further specifies that the NM legislative council invite the state historian, a representative from the attorney general's office and 5 land grant representatives designated by the NM land grant forum to be members of the task force.

Significant Issues

HJM 22 concludes that the task force propose legislative and legal remedies to the NM congressional delegation and the NM legislature and submit reports of its finding with proposed remedies to the legislature in years 2002 and 2003. The bill also authorizes the task force to receive grants, donations and contributions for its responsibilities and that a copy of the memorial be sent to the NM congressional delegation, NM Legislative Council, Attorney General, State Historian and the NM land grant forum.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Creation of the task force will impact on the legislative council budget.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Creation of the task force to review, monitor, and guide the proposed federal general accounting office investigation will have and administrative impact on the legislative council.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

HJM 22 makes the following points:

• •NM has a unique history that includes a substantial number of land grants.
• •Provisions of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo have not been fully implemented in the spirit of Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution and Article 2, Section 5 of the NM Constitution.
• •The NM congressional delegation has ordered the general accounting office to study how the U.S. government implemented the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
• •General Accounting Office has been directed to submit a final report by December, 2002.

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